Firecracker- John Shelby

-eight-

"They should already be asleep"John said handing me his keys.
"Okay"I said
When I got to johns house it was quiet. I went up to check on all the kids before I went back downstairs and collapsed on the couch, falling asleep immediately. It was around 3 or 4 when I heard John come home. True to his promise, he didn't wake me up. I was easily able to easily fall back asleep. I was woken up again when Tommy burst into the living room and woke me up. John and the kids had already been awake for hours.
"Come on we're leaving"Tommy said, shaking me awake.
"John why didn't you wake me up!"I said angrily
"Not as scary when your sleeping" he shrugged eating a slice of toast.
I got up and walked into the kitchen. I poured myself a glass of water and took the toast of johns hand.
"Come on let's go" I said to Tommy
Both John and tommy stared at me then laughed. I stared at him impatiently but he didn't move.
I scoffed.
"How long do I have"I said realising
"An hour, so hurry up" Tommy said patting me on the back
"I haven't got time to go home and get dressed"I said
"Borrow something of marthas" John shrugged
I ran up the stairs and found something somewhat reasonable to wear. When I walked downstairs John was staring at me. I realised just how weird it must be for him to see me in his late wife's clothes.
"Come on"Tommy said, putting his arm on my shoulders and pulling me out the door.
The journey there was silent but comfortable. Once we got to the restaurant I realised Campbell had tried his best to pick the most expensive luxury location he could, but failed miserably. Me and Tommy walked up to where he was standing In the corner.
"I chose this place because it is outside all of our jurisdictions. Do you want tea?"Campbell said
"Inspector we accepted your invitation because I want us to understand each other.I'm a businessman , I want to make our business successful. " Tommy said
"And I want my city run peacefully" Campbell said
"If the city is peaceful, business can thrive" Tommy said
"So we're on the same side" Campbell said
"I think perhaps we could be" tommy answered
We all moved to take a seat.
"Now...how can we be on the same side when I see things like this. My men found this in the bedroom of a known communist. It had your sisters name on it. It was obvious she'd been sleeping in his bed, are you also in bed with the communists?" He asked and handed us a prescription medication slip with ada's name on it.
"We do not share their fantasy. And as my sister. I have already dealt with the situation"Tommy said
"Freddie Thorne is at the top of my list" Campbell said
"Cross him off, he won't be returning to the city"Tommy said, I stared at him with confusion. All of this was news to me. I was starting to wonder why I was even here.
"I'll make him part of our deal" tommy said
"What deal"Campbell asked viciously
Tommy looked over at me inviting me to speak.
"You and your specials will leave our businesses alone from now on. No more raids into our territory, no more smashing our pubs,no more lifting our runners. You will turn a blind eye to all of our gambling operations. Also...we are planning an expansion onto the race tracks. We intend to do business with billy kimber. He runs most of the legal track side betting outside of London.he has policemen on his payroll. We want you to put in a word with the chief inspector at Gloucestershire,that his men should leave us alone when we make our move" I finished finally
"See I knew you where the one to be taken seriously out of the two of you. Forgive me I haven't got a pen, to write down this rather long list of demands" he pulled out a pen and slid it over to me.
"And what do I get in return" he asked
I looked over at tommy and he nodded.
"We have what your looking for. We have the guns"I said
"What guns?" Campbell spat
"We're not here to play games"I said sitting and pulling Tommy with me
"Wait,wait" Campbell said
We sat back down.
"25 Lewis machine guns, 50 carbines, 10,000 rounds of ammunition all in a crate bound for Libya, stolen from the BSA proofing bay. I'm guessing they sent you to Birmingham to get those guns back. Well, it's us that has them. We have left word with men we trust, that if either of us are taken into police custody for whatever reason, those guns will be shipped to Liverpool. From there they will be sent directly to Belfast, and sold to the Irish Republican Army. All your good work in Ireland will be undone. Each stolen weapon is numbered and marked. If We sell them to the IRA, it won't be long before mr Churchill finds out. I imagine you got into enough trouble over the burning of the kings photographs. That was just a taster. If those guns reach Belfast, your life in the force is over. When we have achieved what we have set out to achieve, we will let you know where to find the guns. You'll be a hero, you probably get a medal. We're fair people. It's a fair offer. Do we have a deal" I asked finally. I admit I did go off on my own without giving tommy an opportunity to speak, but nevertheless he sat back and looked satisfied, proud even.
Campbell sat in silence for a great deal of time. War going on in his mind about what to do.
"We need an answer, right now" I said
"Very well,but I would prefer if we don't shake hands on it." He said
I stood up and went right over to inspector Campbell, Tommy at my heal.
"Now why would I shake the hand of a man who didn't even fight for his country?"

I love tommy and shirleys freindship, also she's a bad bitch like what. Also not tommy being a feminist. Shirleys definitely giving off suffragette vibes